I Nominated for Good Reads best of 2020***

I read an ARC of this book and once VV sent out the Audible invite, I knew I had to be one of the first to hear it.

Performance:
Listen, Darcy Stark can read me the riot act not to mention a bedtime story. His voice is like butter being cut by a hot knife, so smooth and warm...he doesn't sound breathless when he reads, no hitches - just melodic, well paced...you can tell he enjoys reading "smut" lol, as he puts it, if you follow him on Twitter you'll see he views narration as a craft and I'm here for it💯.

Story/Overall:
I'm an avid reader of the Gentleman Courtesans series ever since I stumbled on them a few months back. I've been awaiting David's story for so long and my goodness it was worth the wait.

Victoria Vale doesn't disappoint and made her characters come to life in this book! David is an out and out rake of the ton. I mean, he's not Dominick's level of rake, but they could compete for the top spot. Along comes Regina, aloof, serene, sad...but her request of her courtesan brought him to his knees. When you're a playboy like David, its exactly what you need. In some twists and turns of fate - David and Regina gets their happily ever after. A few things:

I♡ how sexy this hero is...do they come gift wrapped?
I♡ the twist that springs forth in the epilogue and will wither if not die before December 2020 waiting on an epic conclusion.

Personally, I couldn't wait for the Audible version. It did everything I expected post reading the book. Thank you Victoria and Darcy for the opportunity to listen to one hell of a story! I went as far as to nominate this book for Good Reads Best of 2020 in the romance category. This book would deserve that win, read and you'll quickly see why!

Enjoy vixens!💋

***The author provided an ARC I've received in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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Hits you right in the feels!

I found the concept behind this series intriguing and this book is another excellent entry in it. This book really hits you right in the feels. David and Regina were so perfect together. From their first interaction, they just clicked with me and I was all in for them. David was the whole package. This swoon worthy hero was caring and fun but also responsible and not afraid of hard work. Regina made my heart hurt. Her past was heartbreaking and after the terrible hand she had been dealt, you had to admire her for having the strength and nerves needed to embark on the path she chose to take. I felt that together these two were steamy and sweet. A truly terrific romance. The narrator had a pleasing voice and I enjoyed their performance.

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1 person found this helpful

Where is my Gentelman Courtesan?????

Finished the 5th & last book in Gentelmen Courtesans series by Ms. Vale ❤❤❤❤❤ Beyond Excellant, BRAVO. Everything you could want in a LOVE Story, including LOTS and LOTS of 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 & a HEA.
P.S. Better read in order.

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Wow! Sensual! Beautiful! Brilliant!

As I opened my audible app to listen, I was ready for sizzling sensual scenes, heart beating quick and to fall in love with yet another gentleman courtesans- but as I listened, I realised it was so much more than that. Just hearing the title from Mr. Starks sensual voice nearly made me die from pleasure!

David Graham, also known as the ‘best tongue’ of the courtesans, leads a busy social life in London when he is called home to Lancashire, to bury his father and to realise just what his future looks like. And gosh... omg! David first scene in Darcy’s voice, cold shower, ASAP!

As the story progressed between Regina and David, all my alarm bells were ringing quite loudly, especially around the way Regina acts, and boy was I proven right. A horrible mistreated woman, and how David made her believe not only in herself but also in love and happiness again. The intimate scenes between David and Regina was So good, made me blush, writhe and desperately need my boyfriend or a very cold shower 😅

And as always Mistress Vale made the couple completely hopelessly blind to their attraction and growing feelings. But thankfully the other courtesans are there to help David to make the gesture of his life. It was so good to see the other courtesans make an appearance in each other’s books. Darcy Stark made this into the hottest book ever, his voice is downright beautiful, so sensual and so good as the “best tongue” or dear David! I was nearly dying just listening to his voice and the way he brought the characters to life so beautifully!

But this audiobook was also a buildup to the next book/audiobook about Ben, and let’s just say that the ending was... Surprising. And can’t wait for the next book and audiobook- especially because of the unveiling of the mystery and bitchy writer of the gossip column.

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a great story and one of my favorite narrators

4.5 stars

With his love of women and need for funds, working as a courtesan is the perfect solution for David Graham and has never felt much like work. With his father's passing, David has suddenly been saddled with a crumbling estate, unhappy tenants, and his mother and two younger sisters to care for. When he's offered a lucrative contract close to home, it seems like the solution to all his problems, until he learns exactly what the lady wants from him.

Recently widowed Regina Hurst is happy to be out from under the thumb of her cruel husband. Inheriting his entire wealth and vast estate ensures her independence, but she's lonely and longs for a child to love. She has no desire for an affair, so hiring a professional to achieve her goals seems the best option. She's certainly not prepared when her convenient arrangement leaves her questioning everything she ever believed about men and intimacy.

Upon meeting Regina, David finds her cold but soon delves deeper to reveal the pain she hides. The more she tries to keep up her frigid facade, the more David burns it down with his caring and patience. As he earns her trust, David finds himself breaking the number one rule of the Gentleman Courtesans: don't fall in love. Though he's loath to leave her when their arrangement is over, convincing Regina to trust him completely may be too much even for David's substantial charm.

I adored David and Regina together, especially once Regina finally started to give him a real chance. He was so sweet, patient, and gentle, and was just what she needed. My complaint is that I wasn't crazy seeing the hero in bed with another woman in the first scene. I'm not a fan of this and it can be a dealbreaker for me, though I have to say, given David's reputation and occupation, it is rather understandable here and I can overlook it. In fact, despite this being a typical no-go for me, I think here it did lend more gravity to David's depth of feeling when he did fall for Regina. I adored how hard he fell when it happened and I really appreciated how things came together fairly smoothly for these two and with little angst. I loved this book, maybe not quite as much as I wanted to, but it's still a keeper and one of my favorites of the series. I also listened to the narration of this book by Darcy Stark and it was fabulous. As I thought, the narration only improved the experience and I look forward to what he can do with Benedict’s book which he’ll hopefully record as well.

I voluntarily reviewed an audio advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Taming of the Rake

Regina is a strong character who wants a baby of her own and is willing to pay a courtesan to get it. Her deceased husband was unable to give her or any of his mistresses a child so she realizes the problem was not her but him. David is a lover of all women, but Regina is the end of the line for the rest because she becomes the only one he will love for ever.

This book has a pretty powerful message within, and for me it was that not everyone is out to hurt you and that the next person to come into your life might be better than the one who hurt you before but you never know if you don't give them a chance to prove it. Honestly trusting is something I am struggling with myself. Anyway, the characters in this book are easy to connect with and to like.

Ms Vale knows how to keep a girl coming back for more. She consistently writes interesting stories with interesting characters that are easy to connect with. She also brings old characters back from previous books which I love because I hated saying goodbye to them in the first place.

If you like your historical romance a bit steamy with a great storyline and wonderful characters then I highly recommend all of the books from the Gentleman Courtesan series.

The narrator is not my favorite but he does ok and I do like that he tells the story with feeling.

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Loved it!

I absolutely loved this story of David and Regina! David is very good at his job as a male courtesan, and I loved the way he treated Regina. It was so good to see how she changed, in a good way. She definitely deserved this second chance at love.

Excellent performance of the narrator, Darcy Stark!

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Beautiful!

I could happily imagine having a David in my life and why not! He's young, virile, good looking with a strong and beautiful body, clever, courteous, caring, attentive, knows how to keep a woman happy and so on and on.
Seriously, I think Victoria broke the mold after she fashioned him out of her amazing imagination. Pity... (Lol!)
What a beautiful story with two fabulous main characters in David and Regina who knew exactly what they wanted and did what needed to be done to get it.
The audio narration by Darcy Stark is fabulous. I love his voice and his acting is superb. He certainly helps bring the story to life.
This is a story begging to be read or listened to!
I have just finished listening to the audiobook version and this is my voluntary and unbiased review.

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As David falls in Love Ben's battle begins

Taming of the Rake Audion Book Review
The Gentleman Couresans #4
Written by: Victoria Vale
Narrated by: Darcy Stark

As with all of Victoria Vale's books, when one reads it they take her words and your mind can you the pictures that her words have created. When listening to her books being narrated by Darcy Stark, you can then add the colours, the background noises, the scents and heightened emotions. That's what good narrators should give you and that is exactly what you get when Darcy Stark and Victoria Vale come together in an audio book.

Mr. David Graham, a coveted rake, a sensual lover and a true gentleman is called him for an emergency, just as the London Gossip is about to expose the names of the Gentleman Courtesans. The emergency is the unexpected death of his father. David expects to find one thing upon his arrival home, what he finds is devastating.

His years as a Couresan were very good to him, making enough money to purchase a small London home and live his life, while sending home money to keep the fields full of crops, the workers homes in repair and the family home up to date. That however, is not the case. Davide quickly figures out the ruse the man overseeing the work and running of the farm, but is just a that much to late to get the authorities involved and the man takes off. Hence a letter to Ben is written about the tires straights his sisters, mother and then estate are in and asking if Ben can find him another keeper.

Shortly after that note to Ben, Mrs. Regina Hurst comes into David's life as his new keeper. She has a short temper, rigid with her rules and is obviously afraid of him and of men on whole. What did her husband do to her?

Darcy Stark takes listeners through the push and pull between David and Regina, while they learn more about each other and finally find they might be better together than apart. I thought I had caught all the clues needed to help give listeners/readers more insight into Ben's upcoming story and it wasn't until I listened to this audio book that I realized I had actually read through one clue and did not catch it until I hear Darcy voicing it. It was a major clue in regards to the friendship of two of our Courtesans.

Darcy Stark gives yet another great performance of another one of Victoria Vale's stories.

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An enthralling story

This was such a good story. David and Regina were just right for each other. Regina had suffered an horrendous marriage and it had left her with trust problems. David was so patient, understanding and considerate of Regina’s needs. I enjoyed their growing relationship but there was still the matter of Regina’s determination of not marrying again. Added to this is the ongoing drama with Benedict and the mystery behind the London Gossip. I just had to mention Powell, Regina’s butler/footman, who wouldn’t want a man like that on your side! This story was enhanced by the narration of Darcy Stark, who really brought the characters to life by using different voices.

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